Reputation… – Rooted

Each of us is forging a reputation & developing personal qualities by which we will be remembered – by man and by God.

Many people (even Christians) claim they can live their life how they want, it is their own business, no one can tell them what to do when it comes to their attitude and personal choices. They will follow the law of the land (many loosely follow these laws… unfortunately) and will do what they want to their own bodies, in their relationships, and in their own homes. Their main goal is to stay out of jail, make money, try to be a good person, and pay their taxes. Build a good reputation in the World’s eyes.

Is this good though? Well…Good if you want to live for the World vs our God. This way of living does lead to bondage of the world and misery within without a relationship with our God.

What is awesome about God is we do have freedom to make choices, God does give us “free will” to choose our way! He lets us choose how we treat our bodies and others through our actions and attitudes.

I used to be a person who said, as long as “they” don’t hurt me and I don’t hurt “them,” then I don’t care what they do. I tried to be a “good” person and lived this way for 45 years… in bondage to the world.

I am eternally grateful for a patient God!

As I grew in Christ, I learned this was a selfish way to live. In reality, I was hurting myself and indirectly and often directly hurting many with the poor decisions I selfishly made or believed in. Oh how wrong and destructive this way of thinking and acting is when it comes to our lives, our reputations – especially if want to live a life by faith.

Fast forward six years and my mind and heart are being transformed thanks to Jesus and the Holy Spirit!! I was saved and gave up my former way of life to follow Jesus! Sanctification is in the works and my life belongs to what matters most – Jesus!!.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” Matthew 16:24-25

Scripture tells us that the way we live now – today – will determine how we will be remembered. So… as Heather and I say in every blog we write – you have to read your Bible to know how to live, then be DOERS of the Word! God’s Word has authority over every aspect of our lives. This act of faithfulness will start to create your reputation – a reputation that reflects God!!

James tells us in scripture:

“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” James 1:22-24

Think long and deep about this …how you live right NOW does matter! What you do everyday does matter! How you act does matter! What you say does matter! If you act differently in private than in the “spotlight” of being a Christian, this matters!! Your relationship with Christ and your ability to ask for forgiveness and forgive others – this DOES MATTER!! Each day does matter and has purpose in God’s eyes!!!

“If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

James 1:26-27

If you are a Christian who believes, goes to church, preaches or teaches, & serves God faithfully BUT acts or has attitude in ways that are outside of scripture (are of the World), how does this glorify God? It does not!

None of what you are doing on earth to be seen by others will glorify God if your heart is evil towards man! What’s in our hearts matters. We may know a Christian with a daily life that seems good with works but secretly their hearts are hard toward a person. The condition of our hearts will reflect our words and actions.

This heart hardness may include tearing down that one person with a hateful tongue or turning on that one person that does not meet your needs or expectations, cutting them out of your life, blocking them on social media, having no interaction and retreating from them to make your life easier, talking behind their backs (gossip), or having thoughts like…they don’t deserve my friendship, I am done with this fellow believer – I hate them. (Yikes)

“If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?” 1 John 4:20

God sees this, God sees everything!! This is not God’s way. Really ask yourself…is this how I want to be remembered, will this be my reputation with man & God?

It is your actions and attitudes in your “non spot light moments” as a Christian that will influence people and create your lasting impression in their minds! Your “non spotlight moments” will reflect your existence for all to remember.

Ask yourself… How does God see you today, right this minute?

The GREAT thing about our God, is that He loves us no matter what! He loves us even if we don’t love Him!! He is so patient, so kind, so good, and HE has a plan! So if you’re reading this and you desire change and transformation, act now!! It is never too late to surrender your life to Jesus and have a life of freedom that will build a reputation people will be talking about for generations to come!!

Plus – BEST of all… God will be glorified when you believe in His Son!! What a gift of grace He gives us!!! #Salvation

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Eph 2:8-9

Read the Word.

Repent and ask for forgiveness. Become a forgiver.

Love ALL!

Stop running from people.

Stop hating.

Face your fears and be set free. Believe in Jesus!